Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2023 12:47 pm
I think to be a true contender we will need to add a good shooter that can play meaningful minutes. Not a Brynn Forbes type who you can't afford to play. This would complete our roster in my opinion and allow us to play with anyone.
We already have that guy. He just needs minutes. I think the biggest need is a backup rim protector. Gobert is the main reason our defense is ranked so high and when he sits or should sit (last minute), we have no rim protection. I don't know if there is a young Gorgui Dieng to get (we could get the older version), but there have to better options than KAT or Naz trying to protect the rim when we need to hold a lead near the end of the game or stop another team's run while Rudy is sitting. Nerlens Noel is 29 and available. Younger guys playing overseas that might help would include Bruno Caboclo, who is very long, shot blocker who plays in Israeli league for team we scrimmaged and Daniel Oturu who is playing overseas somewhere. Maybe there's some other names too.
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2023 12:47 pm
I think to be a true contender we will need to add a good shooter that can play meaningful minutes. Not a Brynn Forbes type who you can't afford to play. This would complete our roster in my opinion and allow us to play with anyone.
That is in my opinion is our biggest need at the moment. I think the wolves arguably has the best top 7 in the nba. Naw has been solid. Hopefully Shake and Brown can provide solid minutes coming up but if not they need to find a guy at the deadline. Going to be a little harder to find that kind of guy because contacts will be hard to match.
Honestly this version of Matt Ryan would of been huge on this team currently
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2023 12:47 pm
I think to be a true contender we will need to add a good shooter that can play meaningful minutes. Not a Brynn Forbes type who you can't afford to play. This would complete our roster in my opinion and allow us to play with anyone.
That is in my opinion is our biggest need at the moment. I think the wolves arguably has the best top 7 in the nba. Naw has been solid. Hopefully Shake and Brown can provide solid minutes coming up but if not they need to find a guy at the deadline. Going to be a little harder to find that kind of guy because contacts will be hard to match.
Honestly this version of Matt Ryan would of been huge on this team currently
The buyout market might free someone up toward the end of the year as well.
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2023 12:47 pm
I think to be a true contender we will need to add a good shooter that can play meaningful minutes. Not a Brynn Forbes type who you can't afford to play. This would complete our roster in my opinion and allow us to play with anyone.
That is in my opinion is our biggest need at the moment. I think the wolves arguably has the best top 7 in the nba. Naw has been solid. Hopefully Shake and Brown can provide solid minutes coming up but if not they need to find a guy at the deadline. Going to be a little harder to find that kind of guy because contacts will be hard to match.
Honestly this version of Matt Ryan would of been huge on this team currently
Matt Ryan was brutally bad in preseason. He deserved to be cut. Wolves have not had a very successful record of integrating three point shooters into their offense. I don't care how well Ryan is doing in New Orleans, from what I've seen of him, he'd struggle in Finch's offense. Forbes shot well for the Spurs and Bucks, but Finch couldn't make it work. Shake was a great three point shooter (42%) when given big minutes in Philly and shot over 42% each of his three college years, so he was probably one of the best free agent shooters available for $5 million. However, if Finch gives Shake little minutes and teammates don't give him good lucks, he may struggle with his outside shooting. There is nobody that's automatic at 3s in the Wolves offense that is available at near minimum contract. Finch needs to get Shake and TB going. I still believe a rim protector is by far the biggest need for the playoffs. God forbid if Rudy gets injured!
I love our roster, and I see no need to add anyone with the possible exception of a rim protector. However, I would consider adding Monte Morris only if Shake doesn't excel as a starter if given the opportunity when Conley rests. I am a huge fan of Monte Morris and he's dinged up now and likely to rot on Detroit's bench as they are all in for the youth movement, so a second, Minott and filler should get it done.
KG4Ever wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2023 5:00 pm
I love our roster, and I see no need to add anyone with the possible exception of a rim protector. However, I would consider adding Monte Morris only if Shake doesn't excel as a starter if given the opportunity when Conley rests. I am a huge fan of Monte Morris and he's dinged up now and likely to rot on Detroit's bench as they are all in for the youth movement, so a second, Minott and filler should get it done.
Wait...you think we need yet another Center!?! Does that mean Naz is out of the rotation? Kyle Anderson?
Carlos Danger wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2023 9:57 am
Well, this is a bold thread considering we are off to one of the best starts in Wolve's history - ha! But obviously everyone has a right to their own opinions. I do not share in the "Lip was right" mindset. I do understand the logic of that mindset. It's not a horrible take by any means. But Tim Connelly has a heck of a basketball resume. And he gets paid a shit ton of money to advise on these things. No offense to Q and/or Lip, but I'm going side with TC unless this thing blows up.
Last year was tough. Rudy wasn't as good with us as he had been in Utah. We floundered around .500 all last year and never looked "right". It was understandable to think we screwed up getting Rudy. But TC doubled down by picking up Conley and basically running everyone else back. So far, nobody should be complaining about the results.
How will this play out in the playoffs? Good question. None of us can possibly know for sure. There are going to be injuries between and then. We will likely shuffle a player or two on the roster between now and then. And I'm sure a lot will depend on what the actual match ups end up being. All I can say is I'm enjoying checking scores and seeing my team with more points than the other team.
As far as debating the trade itself and what we gave up, I think that will always be a separate argument. Probably most of us agreed at the time we gave up too much. But I see Kessler is off to a slow start this year (zero VORP). Keyonte George is negative VORP. Both guys are young and probably will improve. But, right now, I feel better about the cost myself - as long as we continue to improve with deeper runs into the playoffs.
Carlos - You should embrace the Lip was right mindset on everything.
HA! I think I do embrace that with most of your posts Lip. But I (respectfully) differ on some of your Rudy takes. Time will tell. You certainly could end up being proven right. But I need to see this actually play out this season and through the playoffs. TC has a vision and I'm feeling more confident in that vision based on how last year ended and this year started. I look at Rudy like a Dennis Rodman on the Bulls team. A flawed player that when used correctly can be still be a key player on a championship team. We shall see...
KG4Ever wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2023 5:00 pm
I love our roster, and I see no need to add anyone with the possible exception of a rim protector. However, I would consider adding Monte Morris only if Shake doesn't excel as a starter if given the opportunity when Conley rests. I am a huge fan of Monte Morris and he's dinged up now and likely to rot on Detroit's bench as they are all in for the youth movement, so a second, Minott and filler should get it done.
Wait...you think we need yet another Center!?! Does that mean Naz is out of the rotation? Kyle Anderson?
Yes (maybe not need, but would like a rim protector if we add a 15th player), No, No. Naz can't guard shit at the rim and I view him more as a power forward who plays center. KAT is better defender than Naz, but he is a below average rim protector. If Rudy goes down or we need to tighten the defense, yes, I would absolutely love somebody who can also protect the rim and this guy could be more of a situational center.
He just needs minutes. 
I think the biggest need is a backup rim protector. Gobert is the main reason our defense is ranked so high and when he sits or should sit (last minute), we have no rim protection. I don't know if there is a young Gorgui Dieng to get (we could get the older version), but there have to better options than KAT or Naz trying to protect the rim when we need to hold a lead near the end of the game or stop another team's run while Rudy is sitting. Nerlens Noel is 29 and available. Younger guys playing overseas that might help would include Bruno Caboclo, who is very long, shot blocker who plays in Israeli league for team we scrimmaged and Daniel Oturu who is playing overseas somewhere. Maybe there's some other names too.
